Republic Day parade 2026: Navy wins best marching contingent award, Maharashtra tops tableau category

Indian Navy wins best marching contingent; Maharashtra tops tableau category at Republic Day Parade 2026, showcasing cultural heritage.

Indian Navy has been adjudged the best marching contingent among the three wings of the armed forces at this year's Republic Day Parade, officials have said.

Maharashtra won the top prize in the category of States and Union Territories for its tableau showcasing Ganeshotsav, while the culture ministry's tableau celebrating the 150-year legacy of 'Vande Mataram' emerged as the winner in the ministries and departments category.

The Navy's marching contingent comprised 144 young personnel marching shoulder-to-shoulder on the historic Kartavya Path, symbolising it as a progressive and strong maritime force, Navy officials said on Wednesday (January 28, 2026).

The Navy's marching contingent won the top prize in the best marching contingent among the three services, while Delhi Police's contingent was adjudged the best marching contingent among Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and other auxiliary forces, they said.

In the State and Union Territories tableau category, Jammu and Kashmir won the second prize, followed by Kerala in third place.

Maharashtra's tableau presented a blend of modernity and tradition, portraying the Ganesh festival as a symbol of self-reliance. Dressed in traditional attire, a troupe of women dancers performed Lezim, a folk dance, on either side of the tableau during the parade on the ceremonial boulevard.